Rescuers describe search, rescue mission after plane crash

Published: Wednesday, December 4, 2013 at 8:33 p.m.

Last Modified: Wednesday, December 4, 2013 at 8:33 p.m.

Federal authorities have taken over the investigation of a plane crash that occurred Tuesday just inside South Carolina near the Henderson County line.

Emergency and rescue crews from Henderson and Greenville (S.C.) counties responded to a 911 call just after 6 p.m. about a plane that had crashed in a wooded area near Corbin Mountain Road and Mountain Summit Road. The plane was reported to have crashed near the North Carolina/South Carolina state line.

“911, what’s the address of the emergency?” a dispatcher asked.

“I wish I knew. I have been involved in an airplane crash. I’m fine. I’m in the woods somewhere,” the pilot replied. “There is an emergency locator transmitter which has gone off and is sending out a signal. I just wanted to say that I’m fine. I might have a couple of scratches, but I don’t think there are broken bones.”

The pilot, identified as the plane’s owner, Anderson Andreas of Van Nuys, Calif., told emergency dispatchers he was flying alone on his way to Greenville when he flew into a cloud and couldn’t use visual references. He said he tried to escape from the conditions, but was “unsuccessful.”

Scott Justus, of the Henderson County Technical Rescue Team, said Andreas told emergency crews he was flying blind in the clouds and became tangled in tree tops before the crash. He walked away from the wreckage with minor injuries.

“His guardian angels were with him,” Justus said.

Andreas also told dispatchers that he lost his glasses in the crash. In the darkened woods, he searched for a pair of glasses and a GPS unit to give exact coordinates to his rescuers.

But with a little bit of ingenuity, members of Green River Fire & Rescue were closing in. While Andreas relayed what he heard around him to emergency dispatchers on his phone, Justus said Green River firefighters employed their sirens as they drove through the region. The louder the siren to Andreas, the closer they drew to the wreckage.

Justus later joined the search with a radio that picked up the distress signal from Andreas’ emergency locator transmitter. Using maps, the radio, a compass and the good, old-fashioned search method of “Marco Polo,” rescuers made their way down and up slippery terrain.

Hampered by dense fog, rain and the rough terrain, they found Andreas at 8:02 p.m.

“After the rescue and confirmation of coordinates, it was determined the crash actually was just inside of South Carolina,” said Maj. Frank Stout of the Henderson County Sheriff’s Office. “Information gathered by our agency and rescue members has been turned over to the Greenville County Sheriff’s Office, National Transportation Safety Board and the Federal Aviation Administration as the investigation continues.”

The public information division of the Greenville County Sheriff’s Office referred all questions to federal authorities. An officer with the NTSB said they had not received any information about the investigation from local authorities as of 5 p.m.

Kathleen Bergen, spokeswoman for the southern division of the FAA, said the fixed-wing, single-engine, amateur-built aircraft was involved in an accident about 10 miles south-southeast of Hendersonville.

“The flight departed John C. Tune Airport in Nashville and was headed to Greenville, S.C. Downtown Airport,” she said.

The FAA is investigating the crash.

“The NTSB will determine probable cause,” Bergen said.

Henderson County EMS, Henderson County Sheriff’s Office, Henderson County Technical Rescue Team and Greenville County Emergency Services assisted Green River in the search and at the scene.

<p>Federal authorities have taken over the investigation of a plane crash that occurred Tuesday just inside South Carolina near the Henderson County line. </p><p>Emergency and rescue crews from Henderson and Greenville (S.C.) counties responded to a 911 call just after 6 p.m. about a plane that had crashed in a wooded area near Corbin Mountain Road and Mountain Summit Road. The plane was reported to have crashed near the North Carolina/South Carolina state line. </p><p>“911, what's the address of the emergency?” a dispatcher asked.</p><p>“I wish I knew. I have been involved in an airplane crash. I'm fine. I'm in the woods somewhere,” the pilot replied. “There is an emergency locator transmitter which has gone off and is sending out a signal. I just wanted to say that I'm fine. I might have a couple of scratches, but I don't think there are broken bones.”</p><p>The pilot, identified as the plane's owner, Anderson Andreas of Van Nuys, Calif., told emergency dispatchers he was flying alone on his way to Greenville when he flew into a cloud and couldn't use visual references. He said he tried to escape from the conditions, but was “unsuccessful.”</p><p>Scott Justus, of the Henderson County Technical Rescue Team, said Andreas told emergency crews he was flying blind in the clouds and became tangled in tree tops before the crash. He walked away from the wreckage with minor injuries.</p><p>“His guardian angels were with him,” Justus said.</p><p>Andreas also told dispatchers that he lost his glasses in the crash. In the darkened woods, he searched for a pair of glasses and a GPS unit to give exact coordinates to his rescuers.</p><p>But with a little bit of ingenuity, members of Green River Fire & Rescue were closing in. While Andreas relayed what he heard around him to emergency dispatchers on his phone, Justus said Green River firefighters employed their sirens as they drove through the region. The louder the siren to Andreas, the closer they drew to the wreckage. </p><p>Justus later joined the search with a radio that picked up the distress signal from Andreas' emergency locator transmitter. Using maps, the radio, a compass and the good, old-fashioned search method of “Marco Polo,” rescuers made their way down and up slippery terrain.</p><p>Hampered by dense fog, rain and the rough terrain, they found Andreas at 8:02 p.m.</p><p>“After the rescue and confirmation of coordinates, it was determined the crash actually was just inside of South Carolina,” said Maj. Frank Stout of the Henderson County Sheriff's Office. “Information gathered by our agency and rescue members has been turned over to the Greenville County Sheriff's Office, National Transportation Safety Board and the Federal Aviation Administration as the investigation continues.”</p><p>The public information division of the Greenville County Sheriff's Office referred all questions to federal authorities. An officer with the NTSB said they had not received any information about the investigation from local authorities as of 5 p.m.</p><p>Kathleen Bergen, spokeswoman for the southern division of the FAA, said the fixed-wing, single-engine, amateur-built aircraft was involved in an accident about 10 miles south-southeast of Hendersonville.</p><p>“The flight departed John C. Tune Airport in Nashville and was headed to Greenville, S.C. Downtown Airport,” she said.</p><p>The FAA is investigating the crash.</p><p>“The NTSB will determine probable cause,” Bergen said.</p><p>Henderson County EMS, Henderson County Sheriff's Office, Henderson County Technical Rescue Team and Greenville County Emergency Services assisted Green River in the search and at the scene.</p><p>Reach Weaver at emily.weaver@blueridgenow.com or 828-694-7867.</p>